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OVFRVIEW <br />The basic concerns and philosophies of Orono citizens have evolved through the <br />City's history and its intimate ties with Lake Minnetonka. <br />Map No. 1 locates Orono in relationship to Minneapolis and the westc n suburbs. <br />More importantly, it clearly indicates the relative importance of Orono to the total <br />watershed of Lake Minnetonka. No other city bordering the Lake has as much water <br />area, as much shoreline or as much watershed land area as does Orono. No other city <br />has as much at stake in the preseiv ation of Lake Minnetonka as does Orono. Yet all <br />area citizens will benefit from Orono's commitment to effective land use planning <br />and permanent environmental protection. <br />Orono and surounding towns have a rich, interwoven history dating back to the Civil <br />War period. The first cabin in Orono was built by John Carman on Spring Park <br />Peninsula (Casco Point) in 1853. In 1856, the first military roads were built and in <br />1858, Minnesota became a state. <br />Soon, farmers arrived to clear land bordering the Big 'v'oods. They established <br />trading centers that would grow into die towTis of Wayz '.a. Excelsior, Mound, Long <br />Lake, and Maple Plain. Next came the city-folk, build- ig cabins along the shores of <br />Lake Minnetonka. Their informal lakeside lifestyles were a welcome retreat from <br />city heat. <br />Together, these pioneers set a pattern that has lasted over a hundred years. Along the <br />lake, Orono acquired an urban character of closely spaced homes while areas aw-ay <br />from the Lake have remained rural with generous amounts of open space. Services <br />for both areas continue to be pro\ ided in the traditional town centers. <br />The people of Orono, though of diverse interests, have been drawn together by a <br />slow-paced lifestyle and quiet amenities. Their common tie is a commitment to <br />maintain those attractions of which Lake Minnetonka is the most visible example. <br />In the 1950's, increasing urbanisation all around Lake Minnetonka threatened to <br />environmentally "kill'' the Lake by uncontrolled discharge of nutrients. Citizens <br />became concerned. Their first reaction caused lake area municipalities to begin <br />extending sewer systems to eliminate individual septic system discharges. This <br />helped the situation at first, but b> 1968 lake water quality was still diminishing. <br />Citizens became alarmed.